In a bid to tackle air pollution from maritime transport, researchers have turned to the skies, leveraging the power of Sentinel satellites to monitor emissions in port areas. Teresa Batista, from the Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development at the University of Évora in Portugal, led a comprehensive review of existing literature, published in the journal ‘Remote Sensing’ (translated from Portuguese), to understand how these satellites can be used to monitor maritime air pollution.
The study, which analyzed data from Scopus and Web of Science, found that Sentinel-5P is particularly useful for measuring air pollution from ships. “Sentinel-5P measurements offer daily data for air quality monitoring,” Batista explained, “which supports ground surveys to identify and penalize major emission sources.” This is a significant step forward, as it allows for more frequent and widespread monitoring of emissions, which can be challenging to track using traditional methods.
Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2, while not as directly applicable to air pollution monitoring, have their own uses in the maritime sector. Sentinel-1, for instance, is often used to detect oil spills, while Sentinel-2 can monitor water quality. However, when it comes to tracking air pollution, Sentinel-5P is the star of the show.
The implications for the maritime industry are substantial. With the ability to monitor emissions more effectively, ports and shipping companies can take targeted action to reduce their environmental impact. This could lead to improved public health outcomes, as well as potential cost savings from reduced fines and penalties for non-compliance with environmental regulations.
Moreover, the data from Sentinel-5P can be analyzed both spatially and temporally, providing a comprehensive picture of pollutant concentration levels in the maritime sector. This could open up new opportunities for research and innovation in the field of maritime emissions monitoring and reduction.
However, the study also highlighted some limitations of Sentinel-5P data, such as underestimation and source separation issues. Addressing these challenges could further improve the accuracy and usefulness of satellite-based air pollution assessments.
In the meantime, the study underscores the potential of satellite technology to support environmental management in the maritime sector. As Batista put it, “Satellite-based sensors are the state of the art for obtaining remote observations of emissions in open sea.” With continued advancements in technology and data analysis, the future looks bright for more sustainable and responsible maritime transport.